If you attended either of the contemporary worship services today I hope you could feel the energy. Our praise time was awesome, like a gentle rain on a dry land, refreshing and filling. A good number of folks came to pray with one another and I for one could feel the Spirit of God working on us. Several folks expressed how poerful the praise and worship time was today. Pastor Tony's word was fresh and touched out hearts and there was a good response to it as folks came back to the altar during the closing.
If you have been on vacation or away for some other reason, don't wait till fall to come back to MZ. A new sermon series begins this coming Sunday - The Character of a Godly Person. As we shared today, God wants a people who are on fire, and who have been refined by the fire to become more and more like Jesus. With the wars and rumors of wars around us, the end might be near, and God wants to use us to draw others to Him before that time.
Our summer revival starts in two weeks, August 13. The messages will be from our series on the character of a Godly person and in addition to the Praise Team Bill Itzel will join us and share some special music. Each night is at 7 pm and you won't want to miss a single night.
See you Sunday if not this week for a Bible Study or our church-wide activity to the Baysox game on Tuesday night. Blessings!
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Future Sermons2
Starting August 6th at all three services Rev. Ray will begin a series of sermons on The Character of a Godly Person. During this series which will encompass the summer revival from August 13th to 16th. It will cover subjects like character, nothing hidden, holiness, a pure heart, a contrite heart, fear of God, faithfulness, obedience, seek & love God and serving God. This series will go from August 6th until September 10th.
This series will be followed by a series on Getting in Spiritual Shape. We spend hundreds and thousands of dollars on our physical shape and health but at times we ignore our spiritual shape. This series will deal with struggles grow character, growing through love, a life that reflects God, tests and trials, a student of the Word and Prayer. This series runs from September 17th through October 22nd.
Don't forget the Worship meeting on August 2nd to discuss our contemporary worship services. The location of our contemporary worship will also be discussed. See you there and each week as we grow in our knowledge and relationship with Jesus.
This series will be followed by a series on Getting in Spiritual Shape. We spend hundreds and thousands of dollars on our physical shape and health but at times we ignore our spiritual shape. This series will deal with struggles grow character, growing through love, a life that reflects God, tests and trials, a student of the Word and Prayer. This series runs from September 17th through October 22nd.
Don't forget the Worship meeting on August 2nd to discuss our contemporary worship services. The location of our contemporary worship will also be discussed. See you there and each week as we grow in our knowledge and relationship with Jesus.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Follow-up from Contemporary Worship Post
Traditional Protestant worship is usually sermon dominated or at the very least 50-50 in time allocation. Three hymns, a prayer, a responsive reading, a creed, the offering and a sermon.
Contemporary worship is more praise and worship oriented. Although the sermon is key, contemporary worship has to do with coming into the presence of God as a Body. It is about encouraging the listeners to grow in their faith and understanding. To prick their hearts and invite them to go deeper in their walk.
Our service of 75 minutes has always tried to be 25-30 minutes sermon and 45-50 minutes praise and worship. A real prayer time (not just a 30 sec prayer) and a time to approach the Lord at the altar and with one another. It has always had music as a central part of the service because music and words can be used to draw us into God's presence.
For those who want more sermon and less praise and worship, a Bible Study might be the answer or a preaching service could be started with little if any praise and worship and one of the pastor's preaching for the majority of the service.
We try to offer all sorts of worship services and MZ. Come August 2nd and discuss what our traditional and contemporary services consist of and if there is a need for more worship styles, we can offer what is needed in the future.
Contemporary worship is more praise and worship oriented. Although the sermon is key, contemporary worship has to do with coming into the presence of God as a Body. It is about encouraging the listeners to grow in their faith and understanding. To prick their hearts and invite them to go deeper in their walk.
Our service of 75 minutes has always tried to be 25-30 minutes sermon and 45-50 minutes praise and worship. A real prayer time (not just a 30 sec prayer) and a time to approach the Lord at the altar and with one another. It has always had music as a central part of the service because music and words can be used to draw us into God's presence.
For those who want more sermon and less praise and worship, a Bible Study might be the answer or a preaching service could be started with little if any praise and worship and one of the pastor's preaching for the majority of the service.
We try to offer all sorts of worship services and MZ. Come August 2nd and discuss what our traditional and contemporary services consist of and if there is a need for more worship styles, we can offer what is needed in the future.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Contemporary Worship
I hope you plan to attend the August 2nd Worship meeting to discuss what worship and specifically what contemporary worship is all about at Mt. Zion. What are your thoughts? Share some of them here so we can come ready to discuss them.
What is worship all about for you? What makes worship contemporary for you? How do these contemporary elements meet your definition of worship?
What is worship all about for you? What makes worship contemporary for you? How do these contemporary elements meet your definition of worship?
